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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A work of art. Truly privileged to read Vuong’s work as it comes out.
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The writing was amazing. It’s poetry in long form and worth reading just to get the satisfaction of how Ocean Vuong makes a feeling come to life.
Story-wise, I feel there is so much to unpack, so I won’t go into the many ways I love the writing.
My main takeaway is this is a story about poverty in America. It’s about how we treat the elderly, the immigrant, the black people, the fat, the disabled, the mentally unstable, or any group that does not fit the “American” mold. What was even more impressive to me is that it’s done with love and honesty. Poverty is the most complicated and complex experience. I’m not talking no gifts on Christmas or we didn’t ever get McDonald’s, although I’m sure that struggle is real, it’s not the poverty addressed here. Poverty that is a generational habit difficult to quit and impossible to escape. It’s how we live, think, and treat ourselves. It does not leave you, I promise that. All the ways these people are different in this book and yet over and over again Ocean tells us they are all exactly the same. They are all worth knowing and being alive.
One of my favorite lines, “To have wings you need to want to go somewhere. But it feels wasted on me, you know?” is said by the youngest character and I feel it captures the difficulty of climbing out of poverty. You can want it. You can have the ability to make it happen, but that’s not always easy. Sometimes, we are the obstacle. And I think Ocean isn’t saying it’s their fault. He’s saying it’s harder than any of the middle America people could ever understand.
My main takeaway is this is a story about poverty in America. It’s about how we treat the elderly, the immigrant, the black people, the fat, the disabled, the mentally unstable, or any group that does not fit the “American” mold. What was even more impressive to me is that it’s done with love and honesty. Poverty is the most complicated and complex experience. I’m not talking no gifts on Christmas or we didn’t ever get McDonald’s, although I’m sure that struggle is real, it’s not the poverty addressed here. Poverty that is a generational habit difficult to quit and impossible to escape. It’s how we live, think, and treat ourselves. It does not leave you, I promise that. All the ways these people are different in this book and yet over and over again Ocean tells us they are all exactly the same. They are all worth knowing and being alive.
One of my favorite lines, “To have wings you need to want to go somewhere. But it feels wasted on me, you know?” is said by the youngest character and I feel it captures the difficulty of climbing out of poverty. You can want it. You can have the ability to make it happen, but that’s not always easy. Sometimes, we are the obstacle. And I think Ocean isn’t saying it’s their fault. He’s saying it’s harder than any of the middle America people could ever understand.
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated